You Are Called to Be a Faithful Advocate

Photo:
Eric Mitchell is the new director of government relations at Bread for the
World. (Laura Elizabeth Pohl/Bread for the World)

By Eric Mitchell

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and
lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and
filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14)

During
these hard financial times we witness more clearly how the policies of our
elected officials directly affect the poor. In the United States, the number of
people at risk of hunger increased by approximately 13 million during the
recent recession. Federal programs have provided a vital lifeline to those families
in need.

Yet sometimes
people of faith have trouble seeing the value in directly engaging our leaders about
government policies. Often we hear comments about how politicians only listen
to big donors or to well-heeled lobbyists pushing policies for special interests.
Where do we fit into the process?

Of course,
people of faith look for ways to help those who are less fortunate. We use our
time, talent, and money to protect vulnerable people, whether through working
with international organizations or local rescue missions. We believe in our moral
obligation to give with an open hand and heart, regardless of political
ideology or background.

We give
not only because our faith instructs us to, but because we see the enormous
burden that those in poverty have to carry.Many of us have never had to feed our families on only $4 per day. Nor have
we experienced the pain of watching a child die for want of proper nutrition.
But millions of people face those realities, and we know that it is a heavy
load.

Despite
partisan rhetoric, most of our elected officials do sincerely want to help
those who cannot help themselves. But as they address our nation’s financial solvency,
some are willing to cut the safety net that has kept many people out of poverty
in this country and has saved millions of lives across the globe.

At this
moment, the stakes are too high for people of faith to be apathetic. Extreme cuts
to foreign aid could result in millions of people losing access to vital food
assistance. Potential cuts to SNAP could result in reduced benefits for as many
as 3 million people, with over a quarter million children losing free school
meals.

As
Christians, we are called to be faithful advocates.

A
faithful advocate is different than a Washington insider. A faithful advocate is
more than just a lobbyist. A faithful advocate speaks for those without a voice.
A faithful advocate is a moral compass for elected officials.

We must all
heed the call, by writing letters, by making phone calls, and by inspiring our
churches—reminding our elected officials that they have a responsibility to
care for the needs of the poor. We do this not as Republicans or Democrats, but
as faithful advocates who believe that God judges a nation by how it treats the
least of these.

Eric Mitchell is Bread for the
World's director of government relations.

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Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. By changing policies, programs and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist, we provide help and opportunity far beyond the communities in which we live. Bread for the World is a 501(c)(4).